Technology Transfer: CRADAs, Licenses, and Patents

ak Ridge National Laboratory has one of the most successful technology transfer programs in the DOE system. The Oak Ridge program, managed by Lockheed Martin Corporation's Office of Technology Transfer in Oak Ridge, leads the DOE complex in the number of cooperative research and development
agreements (CRADAs) and licensing agreements and in total
licensing revenues and extent of industrial outreach. Since
1990, ORNL has entered into 163 CRADAs (52 in 1995) with
a total value of $132 million. ORNL has also executed
128 licenses since 1985 (36 in 1995), resulting in over
$100 million in sales and generating more than $3 million
in royalties for use in technology transfer activities. Sales
of licensed products in 1995 increased by 35% over the previous year. Patent applications have more than tripled
in the past 5 years and are approaching 100 per year.

An important component of the ORNL technology transfer effort is the Energy Research Laboratory Technology Research (ER-LTR) Program, which is managed by the Office of Science and
Technology Partnerships (Partnerships Office). This program seeks to capitalize
on ORNL's multidisciplinary strength by supporting research that enhances
its mission, as well as providing the technological underpinnings
needed for the future growth of American industry. Within this
framework, research is being performed in support of the development of three critical national technologies: advanced
or tailored materials, intelligent manufacturing, and
sustainable development (energy, environment, and biotechnology). This effort
is accomplished through technology research and maturation projects
and cost-shared collaborations such as CRADAs, personnel exchanges,
and technical assistance projects.

Currently, the ORNL portfolio includes 35 multiyear projects, 21 single-year CRADAs, five technology maturation projects, two personnel exchanges, and 52 technical assistance projects. Nearly half of the CRADAs and over 80% of the technical assistance projects involve small U.S. businesses. The Laboratory Technology Research Program offers an effective and appropriate mechanism for federal investment in cost-shared R&D. Clearly, this type of joint investment capitalizes on two great strengths: the world-class research capability of ORNL and the unparalleled entrepreneurial spirit of American industry.

The following tables provide information on ORNL involvement with private firms through CRADAs, ORNL technologies licensed to industrial firms, and ORNL staff patents for 1995.